Before Lorenzo and I can discuss Alice’s visit, Mrs Bellacci bustles into the kitchen with Dr Romano in tow, both weighed down by heavy bags of goods. Romano says something in Italian, and Lorenzo hurries out of the kitchen, presumably to fetch more groceries from the car.
While Mrs Bellacci busies herself in the kitchen, putting things away and readying to prepare the evening meal, the doctor asks me to sit.
“How did you progress? With your search for the book?”
“No luck. We covered a lot of ground, but I’ve found nothing relevant.”
“I see. And what about the rest of your afternoon?”
I stall for a second. Romano’s stern gaze burns into me, and I wonder for a moment if there is a hidden camera in my bedroomthat recorded Lorenzo and me having sex. Romano must notice my discomfort because he continues on.
“After Mrs Bellacci left, you had a visitor, did you not?”
I gape at him before looking around the kitchen to see if there’s any evidence of Alice’s visit. Mrs Bellacci stops what she is doing and stares hard at me before holding up her phone.
“Security cameras,” says Romano, without looking at her. “And a call fromil signorGalli, who says he spoke to an expensive-looking Asian woman in an equally luxurious car, a woman who was looking for you. Gabriel, if you value the trust between us, it is important that we do not keep important things from each other. Unless you are planning to return to your family in London.”
His words wake me. He’s right. I need to be open and honest with them if I want them to continue helping me.
“I’m not going anywhere, Dr Romano. Albert was the only person I considered as family in London. And he told me to trust nobody. If I seem overcautious, please forgive me. I have friends in London who helped me, but right now, the only people I see as family are here in this villa.”
Although she has turned away, I notice Mrs Bellacci nodding.
“I wanted to wait until Lorenzo returned before I told you about the visitor. Alice Callico is Albert’s sister-in-law, the one I already mentioned. She’s staying at the Four Seasons in Florence. At least, that’s what she told me. I disclosed nothing to her about Albert’s message or what has been happening here.”
“She has been validated,” says Romano, as Mrs Bellacci continues working. “We were suspicious that her arrival coincided with Mrs Bellacci’s departure from the house. But your friend’s story checks out. We have verified the car plates and the hotel room booking. She arrived from London yesterday.”
“She has business in Florence and dropped by to check if I was okay. And I believe she left satisfied. But there are things she told me that I would like your thoughts on.”
“Go ahead. I also have news I need to share.”
I relate everything Alice told me. I need the doctor’s sound judgment. Maybe I’m too suspicious by nature, but I can’t help sensing—however fanciful it may seem—that Puchinsky had a hand in the crash that killed Albert and may even have found a way to tamper with Leblanc’s equipment at the hospital. The lingering question, of course, is why.
At that moment, Lorenzo returns, and after he has placed down the box of goods, Romano demands our attention.
“Now we are all here, let me begin by updating you on everything I found out about last night’s raid. Spataro said the sponsor wished to remain anonymous and paid for the hit in full by cash transfer from a Swiss bank account. They have never done business with this client before. And bearing in mind what transpired, he has asked a favour. They requested a phone photo as soon as the operation succeeded to prove that Gabriel had been dispatched. Spataro said he has been offered a cash bonus for this evidence. In all honesty, he believes they are amateurs with more money than wisdom, which is why he considers them a one-off client. Anyway, he asks if we would be prepared to stage a scene showing Gabriel’s body. Personally, I like this idea. We all benefit. Spataro’s reputation remains unblemished, and the client will be satisfied and not tempted to send people to verify the hit. More importantly, this is an excellent opportunity for you, Gabriel, to become a ghost. Digging for clues and following the trails the professor left will be much easier if you are invisible. And we always have room for a ghost on our team, don’t we?”
Bellacci smirks and nods as she wipes her hands on a tea towel while Lorenzo grins at me. I admire Romano’s reasoning. Beingout of the picture will allow me to investigate without fear of being hunted.
“How will you make the scene look realistic?” I ask Romano. “And isn’t there a date stamp on phone photos these days? Could you use AI?”
“Anyone skilled enough can spot an AI-generated image. They may be amateurs, but I would rather not take that risk. We will stage and photograph something ourselves.”
“And do not worry about the detail,” says Lorenzo. “Teresa was schooled in Sicily. Even in kindergarten, they teach faking crime scenes and how to tamper with evidence.”
Bellacci barks out curses at Lorenzo in Italian and flips her tea towel at him while Dr Romano and I laugh aloud.
“I can’t believe you just made a joke?” I tell Lorenzo and am rewarded with his rare, gap-toothed smile.
“One minute,” says Lorenzo, his face becoming serious again. “Did Spataro tell the client when this hit would take place?”
“No,” answers Romano. “He said the client did not want details. Only confirmation that the job had been carried out successfully, together with a photograph.”
“This is good,” replies Lorenzo.
“I don’t understand,” says Romano.
“Gabriel,” says Lorenzo. “Tell them what your visitor told you today.”